Question 67
What is effectual calling?
Effectual calling is the work of God’s almighty power and grace,a whereby (out of his free and special love to his elect, and from nothing in them moving him thereuntob ) he doth, in his accepted time, invite and draw them to Jesus Christ, by his word and Spirit;c savingly enlightening their minds,d renewing and powerfully determining their wills,e so as they (although in themselves dead in sin) are hereby made willing and able freely to answer his call, and to accept and embrace the grace offered and conveyed therein.f
What is effectual calling?
Effectual calling is the work of God’s almighty power and grace,a whereby (out of his free and special love to his elect, and from nothing in them moving him thereuntob ) he does, in his accepted time, invite and draw them to Jesus Christ, by his word and Spirit;c savingly enlightening their minds,d renewing and powerfully determining their wills,e so as they (although in themselves dead in sin) are hereby made willing and able freely to answer his call, and to accept and embrace the grace offered and conveyed therein.f
a. John 5:25; Ephesians 1:18–20; 2 Timothy 1:8–9
John 5:25
5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
5:25 Truly, truly, I tell you, the hour is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
Ephesians 1:18–20
1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
1:18 I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, 1:19 and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength, 1:20 which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms,
2 Timothy 1:8–9
1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
1:8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God. 1:9 He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.
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b. Titus 3:4–5; Ephesians 2:4–5, 7–9; Romans 9:11
Titus 3:4–5
3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
3:4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 3:5 He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 2:4–5; Ephesians 2:7–9
2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
2:4 But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 2:5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved! 2:7 in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 2:9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Romans 9:11
9:11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
9:11 Yet before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad, in order that God's plan of election might stand,
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c. 2 Corinthians 5:20; 6:1–2; John 6:44; 2 Thessalonians 2:13–14
2 Corinthians 5:20
5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
5:20 Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.
2 Corinthians 6:1–2
6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
6:1 As God's fellow workers, then, we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. 6:2 For He says: "In the time of favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." Behold, now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation!
John 6:44
6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
6:44 "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.
2 Thessalonians 2:13–14
2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 2:14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2:13 But we should always thank God for you, brothers who are loved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning to be saved by the sanctification of the Spirit and by faith in the truth. 2:14 To this He called you through our gospel, so that you may share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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d. Acts 26:18; 1 Corinthians 2:10, 12
Acts 26:18
26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
26:18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.'
1 Corinthians 2:10; 1 Corinthians 2:12
2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
2:10 But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 2:12 We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
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e. Ezekiel 11:19; 36:26–27; John 6:45
Ezekiel 11:19
11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
11:19 And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them; I will remove their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh,
Ezekiel 36:26–27
36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 36:27 And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.
John 6:45
6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
6:45 It is written in the Prophets: 'And they will all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from Him comes to Me-
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f. Ephesians 2:5; Philippians 2:13; Deuteronomy 30:6
Ephesians 2:5
2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
2:5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!
Philippians 2:13
2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
2:13 For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.
Deuteronomy 30:6
30:6 And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.
30:6 The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.
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